Diabetes help that’s good for the whole family
Q: In one of your past newsletters, I remember reading about controlling diabetes with the herb gymnema. Can this be used with children and if so what dosage for what ages?
Dr. Wright: We featured gymnema in the “Botanical of the Month” column in the January 2002 issue. While I read just about everything I can get my hands on to stay on top of nutritional therapies, no one knows herbs better than the author of the original article, my friend and colleague, Kerry Bone. So, I passed your question on to him. Here’s what Kerry had to say:
I’ve found that gymnema is suitable for use in children, and is particularly valuable in delaying the onset of Type 1 diabetes (where there is sufficient warning of its development). For adults, I recommend taking 4 grams in tablet form two to three times a day, for a total daily dose of 8 to 12 grams. Children should be given a fraction of the adult dose.
To figure out how much to give, divide the child’s weight in pounds by the number 130. That’s the fraction of the adult dose you should use. For example, if the child weighs 65 lbs. then he would receive half the adult dose. But, of course, it’s always best to work with a physician skilled in herbal medicine to establish the exact dose and protocol. To locate one in your area, contact the American College for Advancement in Medicine at (800)532-3688 or visit www.acam.org.
You should be able to find gymnema at your local health food store.
